If you take bread to work several days a week and can freeze portions, a whole loaf of own-brand wholemeal bread is a practical staple. If you eat less bread or don’t have freezer space, half a loaf may suit you better and help reduce waste. Whichever you choose, check the weight and type of bread, and how much you’re likely to use.
If you take lunch to work on several days, consider how many sandwiches you’ll get from a whole loaf. Freezing portions helps you save the rest for future working days. The Dutch Bakery Centre says affordability is an important factor when choosing bread.
If you want wholemeal bread as a regular part of your lunch, check the product description rather than judging by colour alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes wholemeal bread and most types of brown bread in the Wheel of Five.
If you don’t eat bread every day, half a loaf may be a better fit for how much you use. If you can freeze it, you can also divide a whole loaf into portions as soon as you buy it, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
First, work out how much bread you need for your office lunches and whether you can freeze portions. Then compare like-for-like loaves by size, nutritional information and ingredients.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Bread for the working week | Compare the same type of bread, checking the net weight and how many slices you use. | If I take bread to work on several days, I want to know whether I’ll really use a whole loaf. Around 36% of consumers prioritise how much they use each week. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product description and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information for specific loaves. | For my daily lunch, I want to choose wholemeal bread deliberately rather than go by its dark colour. This type of bread is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Consider whether half a loaf will be enough or whether you can freeze a whole loaf in portions straight away. | If I only eat bread occasionally, I want to avoid the rest going stale. Around 21% of consumers prioritise avoiding waste. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf; check whether it lists baker’s salt if you wish. | If I need to watch out for an ingredient, the information for this particular loaf needs to be clear. This check is decisive for around 14% of consumers. |
Comparing pack sizes alone doesn’t tell you much if the type and weight of bread are different. Bread rolls aren’t directly comparable with a whole loaf either.
Compare similar loaves and check the net weight before choosing a size.
If you don’t use the whole loaf, you’ll have slices left over. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
Choose half a loaf if that better suits how much you eat, or divide a whole loaf into lunch-sized portions and freeze them straight away.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. The type of bread or shop name therefore doesn’t confirm which ingredients are in a particular loaf.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt, or ask the baker about it if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes standard loaves, OerDesem and gluten-free options.
Jumbo’s online wholemeal range includes own-brand bread, half loaves and rolls.
Lidl distinguishes between fresh-from-the-oven, pre-packed and part-baked bread.
ALDI offers fresh daily standard loaves and wholemeal options, including a separate product that’s especially high in fibre.
PLUS’s online range includes standard wholemeal bread and Korenlanders sourdough.
Dirk’s range includes wholemeal bread, multigrain bread and sourdough in different sizes.
These products offer a range of options for a packed lunch: a whole loaf, a pack of two loaves, flatbread and crispbread. Choose based on how much you’ll use and how much preparation fits into your morning.
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A whole round wholemeal loaf for anyone who takes bread to work on several days. The pack contains 550 g; remember that you’ll need to bake it before using it for lunch. Check the ingredients if baker’s salt or allergens are important to your choice.
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Two wholemeal loaves for anyone who regularly takes lunch to work and can store what they don’t use. You’ll also need to bake the bread before using it; consider whether two loaves suit your needs and freezer space.
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A wholemeal flatbread for anyone who’d rather take individual pieces than slices from a whole loaf. It’s a different type of bread from a standard whole or half loaf; check the packaging for weight, ingredients and storage advice.
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Wholemeal crispbread is an alternative to soft sandwiches in a packed lunch. The pack contains 375 g; its format and eating experience differ from a standard whole or half loaf. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack if they’re relevant to your choice.
A wholemeal loaf is a practical choice if you’ll use it all or can freeze it in portions straight away. If you eat less bread and can’t freeze it, see whether half a loaf better suits your needs.
Freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, then take out what you need for lunch. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage advice for wholemeal bread.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Read the ingredients list for the particular loaf, or ask the baker if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
Read the allergen information for the specific product and check the packaging when you buy it. A general description such as wholemeal doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients or possible allergens.
